Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Rational Emotive Behavior Group Counseling To Reduce Toxic Masculinity In The Patriarchal Culture Of High School Students, Bakhrudin All Habsy, Rukhil Amania, Michael Adeniyi Omoyemiju

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Toxic masculinity is a social construct in patriarchal societies, characterizing male attitudes that dominate and accentuate gender inequality with women in lower positions, influencing detrimental behavioral patterns. This research aims to examine the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Group Counseling in reducing toxic masculinity behaviors among high school students within the context of patriarchal culture. The study employed an experimental design with a pretest and posttest control group arrangement. From the Toxic masculinity inventory measurements, twelve students with high levels of toxic masculinity characteristics were identified. Subject selection was randomized, with six students in each experimental and control group. Data …

Social Media Usage And Peer Pressure As Predictors Of Substance Abuse Among In-School Adolescents In Kwara State, Nigeria, Mariam Bukola Alwajud-Adewusi, Olayemi Zainab Oduola, Bolanle Ifabiyi

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Substance abuse among youngsters in Nigeria is worrisome. Its consequences include acute, chronic diseases as well as social and psychological ailments. Immediate intervention is essentially paramount to prevent the future of the younger generation. Thus, this study investigated social media usage and peer pressure as predictors of substance abuse among in-school adolescents in Kwara state, Nigeria. The study was a survey research. The population of this study comprised all in-school adolescents in Secondary Schools in Kwara State which estimated at 247,845. The sample size of 403 participated in the study. An instrument entitled “Social Media Usage, Peer Pressure and Substance …

Appreciation Ally, Robert H. Rice, Phoebe Brajdic

Fisher Showcase 2025

Appreciation Ally is an innovative gratitude-focused app developed from evidence-based mental health research.

It uniquely blends visual positivity and reflective journaling, guiding users toward enhanced self-discovery, mood and appreciation.

How Is The Psychological Well-Being Of The Prospective Counselor: The Perma-Profiler, Yessika Nurmasari, Moh. Khoerul Anwar, Muhsin Muhsin, Do Mai Lam

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Well-being is one of the factors that prospective counselors continue to develop themselves and their profession. The research aims to provide an overview of the psychological well-being of prospective counselors. The study used the PERMA-Profiler measurement, distributed to Islamic Counseling Guidance students at UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung. The data were analyzed by quantitative descriptive with simple random sampling. The attachment indicator (E) is the largest at 7.48, followed by the positive emotion indicator (P) at 7.44, the meaningfulness indicator (M) with a score of 7.39, the relationship indicator ® with a score of 7.21, the achievement indicator (A) with …

Social Program For Adults Living In Group Homes, Kailee Oram, Mary Jan Greer

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs) living in group homes have lower quality of life outcomes, particularly for the domain of social inclusion, compared to adults with IDDs who live alone or with family. This capstone experience aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a social program for this population to promote community engagement and interpersonal relationships. The 8-week social program was planned for participants living in group homes led by Trinity Services in suburban IL. A needs assessment included interviews with clients and staff about supports and barriers to social participation and ideas for community activities. The program was …

Factors Associated With Quality Of Intrapartum Care In Kenya: A Complex Samples Analysis Of The 2022 Kenya Demographic And Health Survey, Lilian Nuwabaine, Earnest Amwiine, Quraish Sserwanja, Joseph Kawuki, Mathius Amperiize, Angella Namulema, Ahmed Sarki, John Baptist Asiimwe

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background

The provision of quality intrapartum care increases women’s utilization of skilled birth attendants in health facilities and improves maternal and newborn health. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the quality of intrapartum care using the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS).

Methods

Secondary data from the 2022 KDHS of 11,863 participants, who were selected by multistage stratified sampling, was used. Based on literature and the availability of indicators within the 2022 KDHS, the quality of intrapartum care was operationalized as receiving all the three clinical components of intrapartum care including a mother having a facility-based …

Factors Influence Homeless People’S Psychological Well-Being And Suicidal Ideation, Pi-Ming Yeh

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction/Significance: About 582,462 individuals are experiencing homelessness in America. Homelessness is devastating, regardless of age. But for children, it can have serious physical, emotional, and psychological implications.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of spiritual well-being, coping strategies, family interaction, and personality on psychological well-being, and suicidal ideation among people with homelessness.

Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in the Eastern Tennessee Downtown Day Center, USA. IRB was approved. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Questionnaires were used to do data collection. SPSS 28.0 was used to do the data analysis. Descriptive …

Breaking Down Mental Health Barriers And Overcoming Generational Stigma In Black America, Ayana White

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Cultural beliefs, historical trauma, and societal pressures shape the stigma surrounding mental health in African American communities. Mental health struggles are often seen as a sign of weakness, deepened by mistrust of medical professionals due to past abuses, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks. This mistrust, combined with societal expectations and stereotypes, discourages open conversations about mental health. African Americans are less likely to seek professional help, with studies showing only 25% of Black individuals pursue mental health treatment compared to 40% of their Caucasian counterparts. Some of these barriers include the criminalization of …

Peer Education On Alcohol Misuse For Fraternity Students At Lindenwood University, Ashley Herd, John Herron, Layaly Ramadan, Jenna Leong, Amy Estlund

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Alcohol misuse presents a troubling problem across all college campuses in the United States. Our project works to educate Lindenwood University male fraternity students on the dangers of alcohol misuse and the larger effect of alcohol on one’s life. Over several weeks, the peer educators researched alcohol subjects and developed content to present to the fraternity members. Content featured in these sessions included general alcohol information, the dangers of mixing alcohol with prescription drugs, safe drinking tips, how neurodivergent individuals can have different reactions to alcohol, and alcohol's role in impacting their education, career, and relationship outcomes. The sessions were …

Age–Period–Cohort Effects Of Adult Cigarette Smoking In The United States, 1971–2020, Dinko Kranjac, Ashley W. Kranjac

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

The rates of cigarette use among American adults have dropped substantially throughout the last six decades, yet smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. It is crucial to identify the putative time-varying population-level factors of age, period, and cohort that influenced the decrease in smoking prevalence so we can maintain the downward trend. We used 49 years of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and hierarchical age–period–cohort (HAPC) analysis to examine lifecycle, historical, and generational distribution of smoking among Americans aged 18–74 years old. The prevalence of smoking has …

Resource Toolkit Development For Mental Health Awareness In School-Aged Children, Jessica L. Newton

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Introduction: Mental health challenges are on the rise, and school-aged children often lack mental health services and education at an early age, which can lead to mental illness. Therefore, it is important to increase awareness of mental health challenges in school-aged children by educating individuals to reduce the stigma. Providing school and community-based resources to improve overall health and well-being is essential to combat the rise in mental illness in our communities.

Methods: A quality improvement (QI) design for product development and education was aimed at addressing this rising problem. The needs assessment results, current literature, evidence-based practices, and conceptual …

Inside The Mad Mind: Medical Ethics In 19th Century Fiction, Danielle Dentremont

College Honors Program

The professionalization of medicine in mid-to-late 19th century America and Britain corresponded with heightened critical scrutiny of the ethics of doctor-patient relationships in contemporary fiction. With ethics frameworks of the century focused primarily on good fellowship between practitioners, it was difficult to charge practitioners with bad ethics. Yet, the broader debates of vivisection and women’s rights brought to light power imbalances between men and women that novelists began to suggest were present in medicine as well. Wilkie Collins’ Heart and Science weighs in on the danger of the doctor-scientist encroaching on women’s rights with the suggestion that women will be …

Enhancing Holistic Patient Care Of Black Individuals Diagnosed With Hiv And Comorbid Chronic Conditions, Marc Fleming, Saharnaz Nejdat, Jon C. Schommer, Crystal K. Hodge

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Pharmacists can play a crucial role in delivering the holistic care model. Research suggests that HIV-positive African American patients particularly benefit from this approach compared to other communities. Typically, pharmacists in community pharmacy settings are limited in their access to a patient's medical record, preventing holistic care delivery.

Objectives

This study addressed the impact of access to medical records on a holistic patient care approach among pharmacists engaged in medication therapy management.

Methods

This was a sub-analysis of a randomized controlled trial of the impact of community pharmacist access to medical records during MTM for African Americans diagnosed with …

The Use Of Person-Centered Language In Scientific Research Articles Focused On Psychosis, Zach Monahan, Tanner Stone, Vinay Swami, Kelly Dunn, Micah Hartwell

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Societal stigma of psychosis leads to delayed treatment for individuals experiencing early symptoms, for fear of being labeled “crazy” or “psychotic.” Delayed treatment can worsen the prognosis of individuals with psychosis. Proper adherence to person-centered language (PCL) guidelines can curb the widely held stigmatized preconceptions about psychotic conditions.

Methods: Our meta-epidemiological analysis began with a systematic search of literature in PubMed discussing psychosis from 2020-2022. From the 14,522 results, we randomly selected 500 articles in journals with at least 20 articles on psychosis (n = 9,775), of which 241 articles met the inclusion criteria. These papers were screened for …

The Art Of Resiliency: Patient Stories Of Maternal Mental Health Experiences, Sara Santarossa, Becca Austin, Molly A. Bell, Samantha C. Henry, Ashley Inclima, Hailey Maddox, Tara G. Smith, Leah Copeland, Dana Murphy, Ashley Redding, Amy Loree

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

As part of a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Eugene Washington Engagement Award aimed at improving capacity to address maternal mental health in research, this collection of stories describes experiences from six unique patient perspectives. Using motherhood as a common thread, these six stories weave together the patients’ challenges and barriers juxtaposed with their hopes and dreams. Exploring such topics as infant loss, expectations versus the reality of the postpartum experience, grief, loss of identity, loss of physical or emotional safety, advocacy, and perseverance through challenging maternal mental health experiences, these tales of resiliency leverage the voices and lived experiences of …

Implementing A Six-Week Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy Program For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease: A Practitioner-Based Perspective, Sara Adams

Expressive Therapies Theses

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor function, emotional well-being, and social engagement. While traditional rehabilitation approaches emphasize physical therapy and medication management, emerging research highlights the potential of creative arts therapies in addressing the multidimensional challenges of PD. This thesis explores the implementation of an intermodal expressive arts therapy intervention designed to support individuals with PD through dance, music, drama, and visual arts. Conducted over six weeks within a community support group in Nova Scotia, the program included guided visualization, Brain Dance exercises, creative movement, drama-based activities, and reflective art-making. A qualitative, practitioner-based method was used, …

Animal-Assisted Therapy With Children In Hospitals And Schools: A Systematized Review, Tantine Kendig

LSU Master's Theses

It has been demonstrated that animals can offer humans significant health benefits. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a growing form of therapy used in various settings to enhance the health of children, encompassing both physical and mental wellness. The challenges of hospitalization and the school environment have been shown to pose different challenges for children, such as an increase in anxiety, stress, depression, and others that have the potential to affect their mental, physical, emotional, and social well-being. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy, specifically dog-assisted therapy, on children in hospital and school settings by conducting a …

Opening The Outdoors: Experiences Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Adults In Outdoor Occupations To Support Mental Health, Jasmine Reynoso, Amy Lyons-Brown

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This mixed methods study explores the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) adults in exploring and engaging in outdoor occupations to support mental health. Through 15 survey responses and 2 semi-structured interviews, data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and reflective thematic analysis. The findings revealed three overarching themes: Barriers to Outdoor Occupations, Facilitators to Encourage Participation, and Personally Experienced Benefits. Participants explained how outdoor activities contribute to improved mental health, emotional regulation, and a sense of holistic well-being. By addressing the gap in research on nature-based occupations within BIPOC communities, this study highlights the need …

Family-Centered Care In Pediatric Oncology, Olivia B. Hope, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga Otd, Otr/L

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Pediatric cancer is a medical condition defined by the development of cancerous cells in children and adolescents. Play is a child’s job; it creates a sense of belonging, fills their internal desire to participate in various environments, and allows them to develop sensory, motor, and cognitive skills. The PEOP model further structured this study by providing a comprehensive framework that considers the interactions between the child, their environment, and their occupational participation. This research project used a qualitative, exploratory design to understand how play-based interventions may enhance FCC in the pediatric oncology setting. Thematic analysis was utilized to create five …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 100, No. 3, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period February 17 - April 20, 2025.

• Wilborn, Price. You Matter & You Are Not Alone
• Smith, Kane. Peggy Crowe Reflects on Counseling Center in Face of Staff Shortages
• Stafford, Hallie. Help with Horses – New Beginnings Therapeutic Horse Riding
• Hawkins, Kaylee. How a WKU Professor Helps Improve Student Mental Health – Jay Gabbard, National Alliance on Mental Illness Recovery Support Group
• McMahon, Jake. More Than a Coach – Brent Chumbley, Track & Field
• Simpson, Libby. WKU’s American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Brings Mental Health Into the Light
• Hardesty, Emma. Trans …

Psychological Treatment Behind The Walls:Insights From The Inside, Rogelio Serrano

Psychology Division Scholarship

Repeated eras of mass incarceration, criminalization of marginalized communities, and substance use policies have created a revolving door of justice involved populations. The ever-increasing prison population has repeatedly become the largest contingency of mental health clientele for an overburdened mental health system. Those who work with formerly incarcerated individuals in the community often don’t know the unique set of challenges faced by practitioners within the system. Increased understanding and coordination of care can offer opportunities for sustained recovery and reduced levels of recidivism. In this presentation participants will learn about the unique insights on mental health treatment that can be …

Staying Safe When Taking Prescription Opioids, Aaron Hunt, Gabriela Murza, Amy May, Jenna Hawks, Alyssa Ferrin

All Current Publications

Prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, morphine, codeine, and hydrocodone, are often used for short-term pain management, and it is important to know how to keep yourself safe when taking opioids prescribed by a doctor. This fact sheet reviews what opioids are, how they work in the body, and how people become dependent on or overdose on opioids. It also offers how to limit your risk of dependence and suggests alternative pain management options.

Addressing Pain Management Postoperatively From A Multimodal Approach In Response To The Opioid Epidemic, Victoria Pascoe

Best Integrated Writing

This review article explores the four-wave opioid epidemic across the United States and the postsurgical multimodal pain management approaches being implemented to help combat it. Breaking down the mechanistic approach to pain in the form of opioid-alternative analgesics, cryotherapeutic techniques, cognitive approaches, and more, this paper offers insight into how pain can be managed outside of the historical approach, while also exploring the future directions of the field as physicians and researchers alike search for ways to offer more comfort and quality of life to the patients who walk through their clinic doors.

Analysis Of The Tennessee Covenant Marriage, Lucy C. Spivey

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Most recent data from the World Population Review suggests that Tennessee’s divorce rate (3.3% per 1,000 people) is among the highest divorce rates in the country (2024). Although the country and state average rate has decreased in the past five years, many Tennesseans are concerned at the number of failed marriages. House Bill 0315, introduced by Republican Representative Gino Bulso, is a result of this growing concern. House Bill 0315, better known as the “Tennessee Covenant Marriage Act,” aims to strengthen Tennessee marriages by limiting divorce options for couples and requiring a premarital counseling course (Jenkins, 2025). Proponents of this …

Biopsychosocial-Based Exercise Model For Rheumatic Diseases Via Telerehabilitation: A Case Series With A One Year Follow Up, Nazlı Elif Nacar, Nur Banu Karaca, Zeynep Irem Bulut, Erkin Oguz Sarı, Senem Bulut, Yavuz Yakut, Sevim Oksüz, Sedat Kiraz, Edibe Unal

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study aims to examine the sustainability of the biopsychosocial exercise performed by telerehabilitation on individuals with rheumatic disease, with and without supervision, and investigate the effect of the biopsychosocial-based exercise model on biopsychosocial status, general health status, and anxiety-depression levels of individuals. Method: Twenty patients with rheumatic diseases performed a biopsychosocial-based exercise model Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach via telerehabilitation with physiotherapist-supervised and unsupervised exercises who continued for three sessions per week for 12 months. Outcome measures were Health Assessment Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach -Biopsychosocial Questionnaire. Patients were assessed at baseline, 3rd, …

Comparison Of Cognitive Functions, Sleep Quality, Emotional State, Balance And Physical Activity Levels Of University Students According To Academic Success, Sevim Oksuz, Ozde Depreli, Aytül Ozdil, Gozde Iyigun, Ender Angın, Betül Fatma Bilgin, Ayşen Karaman

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study was planned to compare the level of attention, dual-task abilities, sleep quality, emotional state (anxiety, depression, stress), dynamic balance, and physical activity level in low and high-academic success university students. Method: A total of 134 international undergraduate students between the age of 18 and 25 (low academic success group n=67, high academic success group n=67) were recruited for this study. The Trail Making Test (TMT) – A and B was used for attention assessment, the TMT While Walking – A and B was utilized for dual-task performance, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was utilized to assess …

Evaluation Of An Occupational Therapy Intervention In Prisons To Prepare Incarcerated Individuals For Successful Community Reentry, Dalenna Bellum, Sue Dahl-Popolizio, R. Curtis Bay, Angela Zhu, Jeremiah Fine, Bruce Kotter, Abbey Glenn, Rebecca L. Wolf

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Literature suggests that to reduce recidivism and facilitate successful community reintegration, incarcerated individuals need life skills training before release. This study evaluated the effectiveness of such an occupational therapy (OT) program.

Methods: We provided and evaluated a 12-session pilot OT program with incarcerated men providing life skills education for community reentry. We used forced-choice and open-ended questions with pre/post Employee Self-Assessment Tool (ESAT), assessing interpersonal, self-management, analytical skills, and skills used in an organization, and Life Skills Program Daily Surveys (LSDS) assessing participants’ perceptions of program effectiveness.

Results: Ninety-three of the residents participated; 69 completed …

Themes Of Moral Injury In The Field Of Asl Interpreting, Samantha Michaelson

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This research project explores connections between a moral injury framework and the recognition and mitigation of ethical stress and trauma experienced by ASL-English interpreters. I have employed strategies such as thick description, textual analysis, and a narrative synthesis of existing literature on moral injury and ethical stress in interpreting to arrive at my findings. The study explains Demand Control Schema (DCS) and the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) as valuable tools for interpreters to discuss and address ethical stresses that arise in their work. Additionally, I examine the concept of role space and its relevance to the experience of ethical/moral …

Perinatal Mood And Anxiety Disorders (Pmads): A Scoping Review, Christina Willis Bsn, Rn, Nia Wells Bsn, Rn, Miranda Smith Bsn, Rn, Kate Fouquier Cnm, Phd, Facnm

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), including postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis, significantly impact maternal and infant health. This scoping review consolidates current literature on PMADs, emphasizing prevalence, risk factors, screening, and treatment. The primary aim is to identify research gaps and inform clinical guidelines to enhance perinatal care.

Methods A literature search followed PRISMA guidelines from August 2022 to November 2024. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using terms such as "perinatal mood disorders" and "maternal mental health." Inclusion criteria were English-language studies from the past decade addressing PMADs during pregnancy and up to one …

Behere Nevada: Partnership And Policy, Sara Hunt

Community Engagement Expo Research Posters

Partnership: Nevada ranks 51st in the nation for mental illness prevalence and access to care (Mental Health America). Significant shortages in mental health professions, especially in rural areas. Other states using policy and funding to implement a “grow our own” model for behavioral health workforce development. Proposed a behavioral health workforce development center for Nevada.